News and Press

World Water Day

One of East Africa’s greatest challenges today is the lack of clean water and this has and continues to have a devastating effect on the economic growth. For disadvantaged people who need to spend a significant amount of time and energy each day fetching water which may not necessarily be safe to drink, the opportunity cost is substantial.


Time that could have been more profitably spent is instead wasted on an activity that may lead to survival but does not lead to economic empowerment. Kenya based Davis & Shirtliff, as the leading supplier of water and energy solutions in the region, has the aim of improving the quality of life of its partners through taking care of their water and energy needs so that they can achieve more in their daily lives. Together with some of the world’s most renowned players in the water and solar industries they can offer cost efficient, long-lasting and environment-friendly solutions within water pumping, solar solutions and water treatment and power generation.

Having been in the business for nearly 70 years, Davis & Shirtliff is well known as a professional supplier of borehole pumps and other borehole equipment and accessories. It is a common misconception that the company drills boreholes, instead focusing on supply, installation and support of quality equipment. The company offers a wide range of high quality stainless steel borehole pumps from premium suppliers Grundfos and Pedrollo as well as the value option of the company’s own quality brand Dayliff, all of them being available in a huge range from stock to ensure that exactly the right pump is selected. For installation and maintenance of borehole installations, Davis & Shirtliff has invested in a fleet of eight specially converted borehole service trucks and a highly experienced crew who efficiently installs the equipment.

Apart from borehole pumps, Davis & Shirtliff also sells a wide range of other surface and booster pumps. Its own locally produced Dayliff brand is increasingly popular with the market and covers a wide range of applications in water boosting and water transfer in the domestic, industrial and agricultural sectors. The complete range includes high quality pumps from world renowned manufacturers Grundfos, Pedrollo and Davey, all of which are offered from stock and throughout the company’s 50 branches in the region.

Most pumps are designed for mains power drive, though with the ever decreasing cost of solar photovoltaic modules and recent technological advances, solar installations are becoming increasingly popular or remote sites or indeed any site where energy efficiency is the primary consideration. Davis & Shirtliff have been in the forefront of this technology since its introduction over thirty years ago.

Solar systems by their very nature of having virtually no moving parts, are more reliable, require no maintenance and are a more cost effective long term investment due to their zero running costs. Davis & Shirtliff works closely with two of the world’s leading manufacturers of solar water pumps and has the highest levels of expertise in designing, installing and servicing solar water installations of all sizes.

Treatment of contaminated water is another area to which Davis & Shirtliff pays increasing attention. Affordable access to clean water is paramount in East Africa and the company offers a wide range of equipment for treatment of the majority of prevailing water conditions. Technologies offered include filtration, disinfection and Reverse Osmosis solutions as well as Ultra Filtration technology which has recently been introduced in collaboration with partner DOW, world leading water treatment experts. This technology is becoming an efficient and affordable alternative to many traditional water treatment solutions, helping to make water safer and more accessible to all.

In addition to solar pumping, Davis & Shirtliff has many years of experience in solar water heating systems and in addition to products sourced from international manufacturers it produces its own quality Dayliff brand of solar heating collectors with a 5 years warranty. Having obtained certifications for four of its solar engineers according to new requirements from the Energy Regulatory Commission, Davis & Shirtliff is now one of the industry’s first organisations officially qualified to carry out all solar installations.

Davis & Shirtliff is also a major multinational player in the East African market for power products, offering inverter/battery backup solutions and generators from small portable units to large stationary prime power units sourced from world renowned manufacturers and assembled locally. In addition, the company’s own range of Dayliff DG generators offer excellent quality and unbeatable value for money for domestic applications.

With branches and subsidiaries in 8 countries offering the region’s biggest product range, full installation and maintenance support and a team of highly trained application engineers Davis & Shirtliff is confidently leading the way in the expansion of water and energy solutions, which will bring reliable, clean and economical water supply to East Africans, improving their lives accordingly. Through this expertise the company feels it is making a significant contribution to the objectives of World Water Day